Rad-Cure Coatings

If niche coatings are described as products developed for a specific market with somewhat limited application opportunities, how much longer will radiation-cured coatings fall into this category? The marketshare that UV/EB technology holds within some segments, and the coatings industry as a whole, remains small, but interest continues to grow rapidly.

The Freedonia Group, Cleveland, OH, reports that the U.S. rad-cure coatings market will increase at a rate of 10% per year to 102 million pounds in 2003, compared to 63 million pounds in 1998. The number of market segments that use UV/EB coatings also continues to grow, wood, packaging, industrial and automotive coatings are just a few of the end-use markets that have recognized the advantages of the technology's instant cure abilities.

Why is UV/EB, a technology first introduced to the industry more than 30 years ago, now growing at such a fast pace?

"Demand is steadily rising due to environmental factors and the need for increased productivity and lower applied cost," said Ben Curatolo, director of technology, UV Coatings Limited, Berea, OH.